JP2013229747A - Extension system, extension server, and communication method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an extension system, an extension server, and a communication method which allows a radio terminal belonging to an extension group to provide direct interterminal communication (D2D communication) via a radio access network, such as LTE.SOLUTION: In an extension system, an extension server 300 includes: a transition opportunity detection unit 310 detecting an opportunity to transit to direct communication; an extension group list storage unit 320 storing an extension group list including an identifier of a radio communication terminal belonging to an extension group; a sub-group selection unit 330 selecting a predetermined sub-group from the extension group list; and a direct communication indication unit 340 transmitting permission information for the direct communication and setting information of a communication environment required for the direct communication to a radio communication terminal included in the sub-group selected by the sub-group selection unit 330.

Description

  The present invention relates to an extension system, an extension server, and a communication method capable of performing direct communication with another wireless communication terminal without going through a wireless access network and providing a communication service for wireless communication terminals belonging to an extension group.

  Conventionally, a wireless access network (for example, UTRA (3G), E- A method using UTRA (LTE) or GERAN (2G)) is known (for example, Non-Patent Document 1). In such an extension service, communication between terminals belonging to a specific entity, that is, an extension group, is realized via an extension server arranged on a network connected to a radio access network.

  In recent years, so-called Device-to-Device (D2D) communication, in which a wireless communication terminal directly communicates with another wireless communication terminal without going through a wireless base station, is also considered in 3GPP (for example, Non-patent document 2). According to such D2D communication, since it does not go through a radio base station or a network device, the possibility that the terminal can communicate even when a failure or congestion occurs in the extension server described above can be increased.

“Office Link”, 2012, NTT DOCOMO, Internet URL: http://www.docomo.biz/html/service/officelink/ “Key drivers for LTE success: Services Evolution”, September 2011, 3GPP, Internet URL: http://www.3gpp.org/ftp/Information/presentations/presentations_2011/2011_09_LTE_Asia/2011_LTE-Asia_3GPP_Service_evolution.pdf

  However, the above-described conventional extension service has the following problems. In other words, even when multiple terminals belonging to the same extension group are located within a certain distance and D2D communication is possible, communication within a normal extension group always goes through the extension server. When congestion occurs, extension communication cannot be used.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and an extension system in which a radio communication terminal belonging to an extension group can realize direct inter-terminal communication (D2D communication) using a radio access network such as LTE, An object is to provide an extension server and a communication method.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a radio communication terminal capable of performing direct communication with another radio communication terminal without going through a radio access network, and the radio belonging to an extension group via the radio access network. An extension system including an extension server that provides a communication service for a communication terminal, wherein the extension server detects a trigger to shift to the direct communication, and the wireless communication terminal belonging to the extension group Included in the subgroup selected by the subgroup selection unit, a subgroup selection unit that selects a predetermined subgroup out of the extension group list, and a subgroup selection unit that selects a predetermined subgroup from the extension group list For the wireless communication terminal, the direct communication permission information and the communication environment required for the direct communication A direct communication instructing unit that transmits constant information, and the wireless communication terminal includes a direct communication executing unit that executes the direct communication based on the permission information and the setting information received from the extension server. The gist.

  A second feature of the present invention is an extension server that can execute direct communication with other wireless communication terminals without going through a wireless access network, and provides a communication service for wireless communication terminals belonging to an extension group. A transition trigger detection unit that detects a trigger to shift to the direct communication, a list holding unit that holds an extension group list that includes an identifier of the wireless communication terminal belonging to the extension group, and a predetermined one of the extension group lists A sub-group selection unit that selects a sub-group, and communication information necessary for the direct communication and the direct communication permission information for the wireless communication terminals included in the sub-group selected by the sub-group selection unit The gist of the present invention is to provide a direct communication instruction unit for transmitting environment setting information.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a wireless communication terminal capable of performing direct communication with another wireless communication terminal without passing through a wireless access network, and the wireless belonging to an extension group via the wireless access network. A communication method using an extension server that provides a communication service for a communication terminal, wherein the extension server detects an opportunity to shift to the direct communication, and the extension server belongs to the extension group A step of selecting a predetermined subgroup from an extension group list including an identifier of the wireless communication terminal; and the extension server permits the direct communication to the wireless communication terminal included in the selected subgroup. Transmitting information and setting information of communication environment required for the direct communication, and the wireless communication terminal includes the extension service. Based on the permission information and the setting information received from the server, and summarized in that comprises the step of performing said direct communication.

  According to the features of the present invention, it is possible to provide an extension system, an extension server, and a communication method in which wireless communication terminals belonging to an extension group can realize direct inter-terminal communication (D2D communication) using a radio access network such as LTE. .

1 is an overall schematic configuration diagram of a radio communication system 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a functional block block diagram of the extension server 300 which concerns on embodiment of this invention. FIG. 3 is a functional block configuration diagram of a terminal 400A according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a communication sequence until a terminal 400A starts direct communication with a terminal 400B based on a direct communication instruction from the extension server 300 according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the extension group list | wrist which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

  Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the following description of the drawings, the same or similar parts are denoted by the same or similar reference numerals. However, it should be noted that the drawings are schematic and ratios of dimensions and the like are different from actual ones.

  Accordingly, specific dimensions and the like should be determined in consideration of the following description. Moreover, it is a matter of course that portions having different dimensional relationships and ratios are included between the drawings.

(1) Overall Schematic Configuration of Radio Communication System FIG. 1 is an overall schematic configuration diagram of a radio communication system 10 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the radio communication system 10 includes a radio base station 100, an operation system 200, an extension server 300, and a plurality of radio communication terminals 400A and 400B (hereinafter, terminals 400A and 400B).

  The radio base station 100 performs an operation according to a radio access technology (RAT) standardized in 3GPP, for example, Long Term Evolution (LTE). In the present embodiment, the radio base station 100 controls direct communication between the terminals 400A and 400B. Specifically, the radio base station 100 determines whether to permit communication performed between the terminal 400A and the terminal 400B without going through the radio base station 100, that is, without going through the radio access network. The direct communication is controlled by causing the radio base station 100 to transmit notification information indicating the above. Note that broadcast information for controlling direct communication between terminal 400A and terminal 400B may be broadcast separately from a plurality of radio base stations, for example, radio base station 100 and another radio base station (not shown).

  As described above, in the radio communication system 10, direct communication between the terminal 400A and the terminal 400B is permitted based on the broadcast information from the radio access network side. Further, when based on broadcast information from another radio base station (not shown), for example, even in an area not covered by the radio base station 100, direct communication may be permitted according to the broadcast information from the other radio base station. .

  The operation system 200 performs operation and management of a radio access network including the radio base station 100 and a core network connected to the radio access network. In particular, in the present embodiment, the operation system 200 detects congestion in the radio access network, the core network, or the extension server 300, and notifies the extension server 300 that congestion affecting the extension service has occurred.

  The extension server 300 manages terminals belonging to the extension group. Specifically, the extension server 300 controls communication between terminals belonging to the extension group. In particular, the extension server 300 is controlled so that a terminal (for example, the terminal 400A) belonging to the extension group directly communicates with another wireless communication terminal (terminal 400B) without going through the wireless access network and the extension server 300. can do. In this embodiment, the terminals 400A and 400B and the extension server 300 constitute an extension system.

  The extension server 300 may include functional elements such as a mobility control device (MME), a policy control device (PCRF), and a subscriber management server (HSS). Alternatively, the mobility control device (MME), the policy control device (PCRF), and the subscriber management server (HSS) may have the function of the extension server 300.

  The terminal 400A and the terminal 400B are User Equipment (UE) that performs wireless communication according to a radio access technology such as LTE. Terminals 400A and 400B belong to an extension group and execute extension communication based on the control of extension server 300.

  The terminal 400A (400B) performs communication with the terminal 400B (400A) via the radio base station 100, and directly communicates with the terminal 400B (400A) without passing through the radio base station 100. be able to. Specifically, terminals 400A and 400B determine whether or not direct communication can be performed based on broadcast information broadcast from radio base station 100, and perform direct communication at a predetermined or arbitrary timing. In this determination, information notified from the extension server 300 (for example, direct communication permission notification) may be added to the determination element.

(2) Functional Block Configuration of Radio Communication System Next, a functional block configuration of the radio communication system 10 will be described. Specifically, the functional block configuration of the extension server 300 and the terminal 400A (400B) will be described. FIG. 2 is a functional block configuration diagram of the extension server 300, and FIG. 3 is a functional block configuration diagram of the terminal 400A.

(2.1) Extension server 300
As shown in FIG. 2, the extension server 300 includes a transition trigger detection unit 310, an extension group list holding unit 320, a sub group selection unit 330, and a direct communication instruction unit 340.

  The transition trigger detection unit 310 detects a trigger at which the terminals 400A and 400B should transition from extension communication via the extension server 300 to direct communication not via the radio base station 100. Specifically, upon receiving a congestion notification such as a radio access network from the operation system 200, the transition opportunity detection unit 310 extracts an extension group that can be directly communicated. The transition trigger detection unit 310 determines that the extension communication via the extension server 300 occurring during communication or after the detection of the trigger described above is transferred to direct communication for the terminals belonging to the extracted extension group.

  The transition trigger detection unit 310 is not limited to the congestion notification from the operation system 200, and may determine the transition from extension communication to direct communication based on other triggers. For example, the transition trigger detection unit 310 can determine the transition to direct communication when a predetermined time has arrived or when a failure of an apparatus configuring the radio access network is detected.

  The extension group list holding unit 320 holds an extension group list including identifiers of terminals belonging to the extension group. Specifically, the extension group list holding unit 320 holds an extension group list as shown in FIGS.

  FIGS. 5A and 5B show an example of the extension group list. FIG. 5A shows an example of a list composed of a plurality of subgroups (Tokyo head office, Osaka branch office, Hiroshima branch office, and Fukuoka branch office) included in the same extension group (for example, the same company). The subgroups are groups that are classified according to logical conditions (in the example illustrated in FIG. 5B, by company base).

  FIG. 5B shows an example of a list composed of identifiers (telephone numbers and the like) of terminals belonging to the extension group. The list includes a terminal user name and an identifier (telephone number). Terminal identifiers are URI (mail address, SIP URI), IMEI (terminal identification number), IMSI (subscriber identification number), S-TMSI (temporary subscriber identification number), etc. Information that can uniquely identify the terminal may be used.

  The subgroup selection unit 330 selects a predetermined subgroup from the extension group list. Specifically, the subgroup selection unit 330 selects a subgroup to be shifted to direct communication. The subgroup selection unit 330 may select an arbitrary subgroup (for example, Fukuoka branch), or may select a specific subgroup according to a predetermined condition (priority order or the like).

  The direct communication instructing unit 340 transmits the direct communication permission information and the communication environment setting information necessary for the direct communication to the terminals included in the subgroup selected by the subgroup selecting unit 330. The setting information can include a radio frequency band used for direct communication or a radio wave intensity of a transmission radio signal, an identifier (telephone number, terminal identifier, and subscriber identifier) of a partner (incoming side) terminal. As information transmission means, it is possible to transmit the information individually for each terminal, in units of subgroups, or broadcast in a limited number of terminals that can directly communicate with a specific area.

  Further, the direct communication instruction unit 340 may include an identifier of a terminal (user) belonging to the same sub-loop in the direct communication permission information.

(2.2) Terminal 400A
As shown in FIG. 3, terminal 400A includes a direct communication instruction receiving unit 410 and a direct communication executing unit 420. Terminal 400B also has the same functional block configuration as terminal 400A.

  The direct communication instruction receiving unit 410 receives a direct communication instruction transmitted by the extension server 300, specifically, direct communication permission information and direct communication setting information.

  The direct communication execution unit 420 executes direct communication with the terminal 400B based on the direct communication instruction received by the direct communication instruction receiving unit 410. Specifically, direct communication execution unit 420 transmits a radio signal with a predetermined transmission power (radio wave intensity) in a predetermined frequency band based on setting information for direct communication, and performs direct communication with terminal 400B. To start.

(3) Operation of Radio Communication System Next, the operation of the above-described radio communication system 10 will be described. Specifically, an operation in which terminal 400A performs direct communication with terminal 400B based on a direct communication instruction from extension server 300 will be described.

  FIG. 4 shows a communication sequence until terminal 400A starts direct communication with terminal 400B based on a direct communication instruction from extension server 300.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the operation system 200 monitors the state of the radio access network and detects the presence or absence of congestion affecting the extension communication (S10). Congestion affecting extension communication is, for example, a situation in which network congestion or failure occurs between the extension server 300 and the extension group area managed by the extension server 300, and outgoing / incoming restrictions are introduced at both points. It is. When the operation system 200 detects congestion or failure affecting the extension communication, the operation system 200 transmits a congestion notification to the extension server 300 (S20).

  Based on the congestion notification from the operation system 200, the extension server 300 determines the transition from the extension communication to the direct communication in order to reduce the congestion of the radio access network, and sets the extension group (or extension group) that allows the direct communication. One or more subgroups included are selected (S30). As described above, the trigger for shifting from extension communication to direct communication is not limited to the congestion notification from the operation system 200.

  The extension server 300 generates a list of terminals (extension group list) included in the selected extension group (or one or more subgroups included in the extension group) (S40). For example, the extension server 300 selects “Fukuoka branch” as the extension group (subgroup), and generates a list of terminals belonging to the subgroup (see FIG. 5B).

  The extension server 300 is connected to the direct communication bit (direct communication permission notification) indicating the direct communication permission, the direct communication setting information, and the direct communication via the wireless base station 100 or another network (such as a wireless LAN). The extension group list is transmitted to the terminals 400A and 400B (S50). In S50, the extension server 300 may also notify the conditions for starting direct communication (eg, extension communication via the network has failed three times).

  The terminal 400A detects a terminal capable of direct communication based on the received extension group list (S60). Specifically, in order to start communication with terminal 400B, it is determined whether or not terminal 400B is included in the received extension group list.

  Based on the received direct communication setting information, terminal 400A transmits a radio signal with a predetermined transmission power (radio wave intensity) in a predetermined frequency band, and starts direct communication with terminal 400B (S70). .

(4) Operation / Effect According to the wireless communication system 10, the extension server 300 provides the direct communication permission information and the direct communication setting information to the terminals 400A and 400B included in the selected extension group (subgroup). Send. Further, terminal 400A executes direct communication with terminal 400B based on the direct communication permission information and setting information received from extension server 300.

  For this reason, the terminals belonging to the extension group can realize direct communication between terminals (D2D communication) using a radio access network such as LTE. In particular, when a terminal belonging to the extension group preferentially uses D2D communication, or when the extension server 300 fails or is congested, D2D communication can be effectively used.

  More specifically, when a company uses an extension service, the terminals included in the same extension group (contract) are concentrated in a specific area (company base), and the terminal can communicate directly. Often located within a large area. Therefore, when the radio access network, core network, and extension server 300 are congested or broken, or when there is congestion or congestion in the core network between a specific area and the extension server 300, a specific extension group D2D communication can be permitted, and the execution of D2D communication of terminals belonging to the extension group can be controlled under the initiative of the communication carrier.

(5) Other Embodiments As described above, the content of the present invention has been disclosed through one embodiment of the present invention. However, it is understood that the description and drawings constituting a part of this disclosure limit the present invention. should not do. From this disclosure, various alternative embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

  For example, in the embodiment described above, the extension server 300 transmits the setting information for direct communication, but the radio base station 100 may transmit the setting information.

  In the above-described embodiment, the operation system 200 detects the congestion of the radio access network and the core network. However, when the extension server 300 detects the congestion of the extension server 300, the direct communication is permitted. Also good.

  As described above, the present invention naturally includes various embodiments that are not described herein. Therefore, the technical scope of the present invention is defined only by the invention specifying matters according to the scope of claims reasonable from the above description.

  The present invention described above may be expressed as follows. A first feature of the present invention is that a terminal 400A (wireless communication terminal) capable of performing direct communication with the terminal 400B (other wireless communication terminal) without going through the wireless access network, and the wireless access network An extension server 300 that provides a communication service to the wireless communication terminals belonging to the extension group, the extension server detecting a trigger to shift to the direct communication; An extension group list holding unit 320 that holds an extension group list that includes an identifier of the wireless communication terminal belonging to the extension group, a sub group selection unit 330 that selects a predetermined sub group from the extension group list, The direct communication permission for the wireless communication terminals included in the subgroup selected by the subgroup selection unit And a direct communication instruction unit 340 for transmitting communication environment setting information necessary for the direct communication, the wireless communication terminal, based on the permission information and the setting information received from the extension server, The gist is to include a direct communication execution unit 420 that executes direct communication.

  A second feature of the present invention is an extension server that can execute direct communication with other wireless communication terminals without going through a wireless access network, and provides a communication service for wireless communication terminals belonging to an extension group. A transition trigger detection unit that detects a trigger to shift to the direct communication, a list holding unit that holds an extension group list that includes an identifier of the wireless communication terminal belonging to the extension group, and a predetermined one of the extension group lists A sub-group selection unit that selects a sub-group, and communication information necessary for the direct communication and the direct communication permission information for the wireless communication terminals included in the sub-group selected by the sub-group selection unit The gist of the present invention is to provide a direct communication instruction unit for transmitting environment setting information.

  In the second feature of the present invention, the sub-group selection unit may select a sub-group of the wireless communication terminal capable of the direct communication among the extension groups.

  In the second aspect of the present invention, the transition trigger detection unit detects congestion of the network between the extension server or the extension server and the wireless communication terminal, and when the congestion occurs, An opportunity to shift to direct communication may be detected.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a wireless communication terminal capable of performing direct communication with another wireless communication terminal without passing through a wireless access network, and the wireless belonging to an extension group via the wireless access network. A communication method using an extension server that provides a communication service for a communication terminal, wherein the extension server detects an opportunity to shift to the direct communication, and the extension server belongs to the extension group A step of selecting a predetermined subgroup from an extension group list including an identifier of the wireless communication terminal; and the extension server permits the direct communication to the wireless communication terminal included in the selected subgroup. Transmitting information and setting information of communication environment required for the direct communication, and the wireless communication terminal includes the extension service. Based on the permission information and the setting information received from the server, and summarized in that comprises the step of performing said direct communication.

10 ... Wireless communication system
100 ... Radio base station
200 ... Operation system
300 ... Extension server
310 ... Migration timing detector
320 ... Extension group list holding section
330… Subgroup selection part
340 ... Direct communication instruction unit
400A, 400B ... terminal
410 ... Direct communication instruction receiver
420 ... Direct communication execution unit

Claims (5)

A wireless communication terminal capable of performing direct communication with other wireless communication terminals without going through a wireless access network;
An extension system including an extension server that provides a communication service for the wireless communication terminals belonging to the extension group via the radio access network,
The extension server is
A transition trigger detection unit that detects a trigger to shift to the direct communication;
A list holding unit for holding an extension group list including identifiers of the wireless communication terminals belonging to the extension group;
A subgroup selection unit for selecting a predetermined subgroup from the extension group list;
A direct communication instruction unit for transmitting the direct communication permission information and the communication environment setting information necessary for the direct communication to the wireless communication terminals included in the subgroup selected by the subgroup selection unit; With
The said radio | wireless communication terminal is an extension system provided with the direct communication execution part which performs the said direct communication based on the said permission information and the said setting information which were received from the said extension server. An extension server that can perform direct communication with other wireless communication terminals without going through a wireless access network, and provides a communication service for wireless communication terminals belonging to an extension group,
A transition trigger detection unit that detects a trigger to shift to the direct communication;
A list holding unit for holding an extension group list including identifiers of the wireless communication terminals belonging to the extension group;
A subgroup selection unit for selecting a predetermined subgroup from the extension group list;
A direct communication instruction unit for transmitting the direct communication permission information and the communication environment setting information necessary for the direct communication to the wireless communication terminals included in the subgroup selected by the subgroup selection unit; An extension server.   The extension server according to claim 2, wherein the subgroup selection unit selects a subgroup of the wireless communication terminals capable of the direct communication from the extension group.   The transition trigger detection unit detects network congestion between the extension server or the extension server and the wireless communication terminal, and detects a trigger to shift to the direct communication when the congestion occurs. The extension server according to claim 2. A wireless communication terminal capable of performing direct communication with other wireless communication terminals without going through a wireless access network;
A communication method using an extension server that provides a communication service for the wireless communication terminals belonging to an extension group via the wireless access network,
The extension server detecting an opportunity to shift to the direct communication;
The extension server selecting a predetermined subgroup from an extension group list including identifiers of the wireless communication terminals belonging to the extension group;
The extension server transmits the direct communication permission information and the communication environment setting information necessary for the direct communication to the wireless communication terminals included in the selected subgroup; and
A communication method including a step in which the wireless communication terminal executes the direct communication based on the permission information and the setting information received from the extension server.

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